- - - Afraid to Blink - - -

Time Out

2006-09-04T16:42:00.000-05:00

I'll be offline for a while. More later.

Dogs + Carpets =

2006-09-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

We are dog sitting Oscar and Cassie (top). The bottom photo shows what remains of a scrap piece of carpet we put in the yard for them to sleep on.

"Hah! We don't need no stinkin' carpet."

The Unknown Sunflower

2006-09-01T08:19:00.000-05:00

There was a show on American television in the late 70’s called The Gong Show. One of the regulars on the show was The Unknown Comic, a guy who told jokes while wearing a paper bag over his head. I have no idea why I remember that. He wasn’t even funny – except for the bag over his head.

By the way, the reason for the paper bag over the sunflower’s head is not for laughs but to save the seeds from birds so we can have more sunflowers next year. The rest of the seeds are theirs.

3 from M

2006-08-31T08:03:00.000-05:00

These three were taken by my wife - M - over the past few months.

?

2006-08-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

I hope a cat doesn't wander into this place. I snapped this while in Denver last weekend to visit my mom.

Seniors

2006-08-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

Blueberries & Saturday

2006-08-26T04:49:00.000-05:00

Let Us

2006-08-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

PhotoShop Monday

2006-08-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Hey, don't laugh. I'm a beginner.

Talking Glass

2006-08-20T13:35:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, read my latest entry to The Scheherazade Project. It's called The Ravages of Time.

Lines

2006-08-19T03:12:00.000-05:00

Friday Brew

2006-08-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

Cloud's Drive In

2006-08-17T08:09:00.000-05:00

Persistence & Stripes

2006-08-16T08:11:00.000-05:00

Tues - Sat

2006-08-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

Here Comes The Sun

2006-08-14T08:47:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, read Wine & Chocolate Monday

Time Out

2006-08-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be busier than usual through the weekend so I probably won't be posting much.

Have a great weekend. See ya' next week.

Writer's Block

2006-08-08T17:33:00.000-05:00

I have nothing current to post and I don't know what made me think of this one. I took it about four years ago. It was in a shed in my parent's back yard, about a year after Dad died and while Mom was still living there.

Monday Leftover

2006-08-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, read Guerrilla Shopping.

Mercury Rising

2006-08-06T11:07:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~
In today's As Good as a Wink, read Mercury Rising.

Jeepers

2006-08-05T06:17:00.000-05:00

I used to have to wear one of these. As a matter of fact, if I was still working for that company (which I left 4 months ago) I would be on call this very weekend. That means I wouldn't be able to stray too far from home. I wouldn't be able to really kick back and relax with a cold one - or two. And right now I'd be wearing that tumor on my hip.

How much, you ask, did I get paid for being on call?

Zero. Zilch. Zippo. Nada. Nary a cent.

Friday Sunrise

2006-08-04T08:19:00.000-05:00

When I saw the sunrise brewing on the way home from work this morning, I quickly pulled into a softball field parking lot near my house and started shooting.

Blue Mercury

2006-08-03T07:45:00.000-05:00

Blueberry Apple Still Life

2006-08-02T08:54:00.000-05:00

Running Through Time

2006-08-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

Portrait: American Cowboy

2006-07-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

Blogger finally let me post this morning!

Trailer Full 'o Bull

2006-07-30T11:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the final parade of Frontier Days. I have plenty of parade photos so I looked for shots other than the actual parade. I'll be posting more the next few days.

I tweaked this one with PhotoShop. I'm not sure if I really like the way it turned out but I don't know the program well enough yet to fix it. I would like to make the trailer in back a darker red.

Time Piece

2006-07-29T08:11:00.000-05:00

Off Center

2006-07-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, Full Service

Botanic Gardens

2006-07-26T07:52:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken by Click when we visited the Botanic Gardens last weekend. That's where I found the finger labyrinth seen in Sunday's post. There is also a walkable labyrinth there, and to answer Caliiope's question - no, I didn't walk it. I probably should have. I was feeling a little irritable at the time. Click suggested I walk it. But I just mumbled and grumbled and walked across it.

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, Crazy Driver Update.

Bee Monday

2006-07-24T16:52:00.000-05:00

It's Monday afternoon as I post this, but since I work nights it's like Monday morning to me. This photo is The Face of Monday.

Finger Labyrinth

2006-07-23T20:26:00.000-05:00

~ ~ ~

In today's As Good as a Wink, read "The Rotary Club," my latest entry in the Scheherazade Project.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade

2006-07-22T18:50:00.000-05:00

We went to the parade today, the first of four during the 10 days of "The Daddy of 'em All."

~ ~ ~

Today in As Good as a Wink, read what happened before the parade.

Fate

2006-07-22T08:09:00.000-05:00

I don't have anything current to post, so I pulled this out of my digital attic. Can you feel that cool breeze?

Look Ma... No Hands!

2006-07-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

Dave Macintyre posted a photo on Tuesday that he took while driving. It reminded me of some shots I tried several months ago when I was on the road a lot – and bored.

Thanks for reminding me, Dave!

Also ~

The latest “Smithsonian Magazine” shows the winners and some runners-up of their annual photo contest. You can see them online at Snap Judgments.

End of Garden Series - Finally

2006-07-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

No more nice 'n pretty. If you look closely on the Sunflower bud (bottom photo), there are two little critters hanging around. The top photo is a Poppy bud. Click on the photos to enlarge.

Garden Series III

2006-07-19T08:44:00.000-05:00

Garden Series II

2006-07-18T08:55:00.000-05:00

Light is the essence of photography. Sometimes light comes to that “magic time,” usually around sunrise or sunset, when it's easier to get a good shot.

Sunday evening I was sitting on the patio enjoying a cold one when I suddenly saw the light. It lasted only 10 or 15 minutes, but I snapped several of this week’s “Garden Series” photos during that time.

I hope you enjoy.

Garden Series I

2006-07-17T09:44:00.000-05:00

Today’s photos were taken by my wife, “Click.” She seems reluctant to become an active contributor to “Afraid to Blink,” so she will become the silent partner. And that’s weird because in real life, I’m usually the silent partner.

Have a good week.

Never Look a Gift Edger in the... Blades

2006-07-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

While sitting in yesterday’s cool evening air, Junebug the neighbor lady (the one who knows all there is to know about everyone in a 3-block radius), stopped by to ask if I wanted an electric edger. She was giving it away.

“Sure,” I said, not sure why. Was it a gentle nudge toward the manicured-lawn look I hadn’t quite achieved? Or what?

When I first laid eyes on it I thought, “Cool – an antique tool.” But then I remembered I would actually have to use it. Show some effort, at least.

Truth is, someone was supposed to pick it up for a garage sale and they never showed.

Lucky me.

The Middle of July

2006-07-15T07:13:00.000-05:00

I shot this yesterday while sitting on my patio enjoying the weather. He was camera shy, but I finally got him.

~~~

Today at As Good as a Wink, my tag response and an open tag writing challenge.

Pipe Dreams

2006-07-14T07:46:00.000-05:00

I work nights. Last night on the way to work I noticed the city had left some pipe to be buried near my house (I don't know if it's water or sewer). As soon as I saw them I knew I wanted to shoot some pics in the morning. I just got off work, and that's what I did.

No Longer a Debate

2006-07-13T16:43:00.000-05:00

When I started my new blogs I decided I would remain focused on photography and writing. But I'd like to recommend a post from a blogger who always has something interesting or relevant to say. This time it's about global warming. Go to Jayne Says and read "Because I'm a Sucker for Drowning Polar Bears."

We need to take this seriously - and soon.

Wednesday 7.12

2006-07-12T16:40:00.000-05:00

I shot this near the railroad tracks of the previous post.

Today's As Good as a Wink post - Alison

Movin' on down the line.

2006-07-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

I took this rail road track series several months ago near Orin Junction, Wyoming.

Rude Awakening

2006-07-09T17:57:00.000-05:00

We had an interesting experience last night about 1am. We awoke to a car in our front yard, stuck, the driver trying desperately to get out before anyone noticed.It turned out to be kid who had taken Daddy's 70's era Oldsmobile out for a joy ride. About 2 blocks from our house he lost control in a curve and left the road at a high rate of speed. The cops said he was probably doing 80 or 90 mph.

He crossed an open drainage area that was soft and muddy, hit a small tree and a telephone terminal box. He then narrowly missed the first of two power poles and continued down a street taking out the stop/street sign on the corner of our lot, narrowly missing a fire hydrant. He slammed into an evergreen bush at the corner of our house and stopped within 6 inches of the siding.

Alchohol was not involved, just excessive speed. I would have felt sorry for the kid if he hadn't tried to lie his way out of it from the beginning. He tried to claim a "couple of guys" punched him while he was in the car, dragged him out and drove away with it. Then they drove two blocks and ran it into our yard.

It didn't take the cops long to convince him it was not advisable to lie.

The last time we saw him he was in the passenger's seat of the tow truck, street sign wedged in the under carriage of the Oldsmobile scraping the pavement as the driver dragged him and the car home.

Daddy probably heard it coming a block away.

2 for Saturday

2006-07-08T07:21:00.000-05:00

Shall We Dance?

2006-07-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

This is great multimedia slide show from the folks who consistently bring us the best photography in the world - National Geographic.

For the weekend - Shall We Dance?

Wednesday AM

2006-07-05T08:51:00.000-05:00

Monday Afternoon

2006-07-03T17:37:00.000-05:00

Flash flood warning in effect until 7:00 pm

Monday 7/3

2006-07-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

The Scheherazade Project: Theme for 6/19-7/3/2006

2006-07-02T19:56:00.000-05:00

The Scheherazade Project: Theme for 6/19-7/3/2006

A Day in the Life of Phil

2006-07-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

This is my entry in The Scheherazade Project. I welcome constructive criticism.

##

It all started at breakfast. The Cheerios were gone. Actually there were nine left in the box but what good are nine Cheerios? And the milk smelled sour but sour milk at this point was moot.

It was all down hill from there.

His plan was drive to the 7-11 and get back in time to eat, shower and get to work on time. Jumping into his baby-shit-brown Buick, a dark cloud crossed his mind. He had forgotten to fill the car with gas yesterday. The fuel indicator needle had been on E. Previous experience taught him that E didn’t mean “enough.”

Phil turned the key. The Buick’s engine cranked over a few times and then roared to life.

“Yes!”

Then it coughed. Then it sputtered. Then it died. It was like one of those gasping, wrenching, 1950’s-movie deaths.

“Damn.”

Phil slumped against the steering wheel. Its hard surface felt cool against his forehead.

“Now how am I going to get to work on time?,” he wondered aloud.

Work.

His meaningless, boring job was waiting. He imagined it as a serpent lying there, jaws open, fangs extended, ready to suck the life out of him one more miserable day.

I’ll call a friend for a ride, he thought.

Then Phil remembered he had no friends.

“Oh well. Things will get better soon. They can’t get any worse,” he muttered and then laughed. It seemed to echo within the hollow interior of his dead car.

Later...

Weary from walking and without a morning shower, Phil sat down at his desk at 11:09 am. He had just spent the last 10 minutes standing in front of his manager’s desk listening to some endless tirade about work ethics and the American way or something.

He sat at his desk and tried to recall his manager’s face, or voice, or words. A phrase from Genesis popped into his mind: “Void and without form.”

Just then the phone on his desk rang. It was his manager.

“To make up for being late today I want you to stay through your lunch break and empty all the waste baskets. When I come back from lunch I want to see all the waste baskets empty, empty, empty. Is that clear?”

Phil hung up the phone without speaking. He put his hands to the computer keyboard and logged into the server deity in the sky – or down the hall – or in some windowless room 2000 miles away. And then he began another day in the life of Phil; another day of work, work, work.

Saturday

2006-07-01T21:32:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I finally had time to finish the first phase of a paving-stone patio.

I think it goes well with cold beer, don't you?

A view from the wild flowers.

This was a great year for Iris.
They're gone now, but here's a couple that were in our back yard.

H2O Day

2006-06-29T08:18:00.000-05:00

Wednesday

2006-06-28T17:17:00.000-05:00

This is a shot I just took in our wildflower garden.

Is HNT still around? Oh well.... it's not Thursday anyway.

First post

2006-06-27T17:18:00.000-05:00

These photos were taken by M (my wife) in our back yard. She says she will join me in this blog, but she hasn't thought of a screen name yet. So for now I'll call her M.

This blog will be mostly photography - probably. We each have a digital camera. I still use the first one we bought almost 5 years ago. In electronics that makes it almost an antique. But that's ok. I'm an antique.